Retired handyman wins ‘historic’ jackpot in New York — but wife didn’t believe him

A retired handyman won a record-setting Mega Millions jackpot in New York, but his wife didn’t believe him at first, according to the state lottery agency.

Johnnie Taylor, 71, of Queens, told his wife that he’d won the top prize of $476 million in the April 14 drawing, according to a June 5 news release from the New York Lottery. This was the largest prize ever won since the state launched the Mega Millions game in 2002.

Taylor had to go online to show his wife that his ticket matched the winning numbers from the drawing in order to prove it to her, the release says.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” he told lottery officials.

Taylor took home a lump sum of $157,288,402 after tax withholdings, according to the lottery. He said he plans to travel, buy a new home, replace his 2012 Prius and donate to his local church. He retired recently from working as a building handyman in Manhattan.

The previous record-setting win occurred in 2019 when a player hit a $437-million jackpot, according to the lottery.

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